LA CONDIZIONE FEMMINILE IN ETA' ROMANA

The course aims to provide students with the specific methodological tools required to study the history of women and the status of women in the Roman period, with a view to understanding social dynamics in the Roman world and in contemporary society.

The expected learning outcomes, articulated according to the Dublin Descriptors, are as follows:

Knowledge and understanding (DD1)

·       To acquire knowledge of historical theories and models for interpreting the history of women and the status of women in the Roman period;

·       to acquire knowledge of theories useful for interpreting relational dynamics (particularly gender dynamics) in Roman times and their evolution to the present day.

Applying knowledge and understanding (DD2)

·       To acquire knowledge of and be able to analyse sources (literary, legal, epigraphic, and archaeological) concerning women in the Roman world;

·       to connect the theoretical and methodological content acquired with the interpretation of past, present, and future events and processes;

·       to be able to apply historical research methodology to achieve the intended learning objectives.

Making judgements (DD3)

·       To understand the specific features and relevance of Gender History;

·       to assess the relevance of the theories studied to the situations encountered and to the actions undertaken and/or observed;

·       starting from the observation of case studies from the past, to be able to propose, formulate, and substantiate suggestions for change and transformation in today’s educational context.

Communication skills (DD4)

·       To be able to communicate and share the analysis of events based on historical knowledge;

·       to be able to communicate, discuss, and present research findings both orally and in writing.

Learning skills (DD5)

·       To be able to identify unexpected research findings and their possible methodological developments and potential impact.

1.      F. Cenerini, La donna romana, Il Mulino, Bologna 2009.

2.      F. Rohr Vio, Le custodi del potere. Donne e politica alla fine della Repubblica romana, Roma 2019.

3.      M. Albana, Le medicae nel mondo romano, «Nuova Rivista di Storia della Medicina», IV, 1, 2023, pp. 1-28. 

https://ojs.unito.it/index.php/nrsm/article/view/7297

4.      S. Giorcelli, Anus. La condanna della vecchiaia, in B. Girotti, V. Uglietti (a cura di), Dure a morire. Parole di violenza contro le donne, Patron 2025, pp. 57-82.

5.      The student must study one of the following papers:

-       C. Soraci, Donne, pane e annona nel mondo romano, in Der Stifter und sein Monument. Gesellschaft – Ikonographie – Chronologie. Akten des 15. Internationalen Kolloquiums zum Provinzialrömischen Kunstschaffen (Graz, 14. bis 20. Juni 2017), Hrsg. B. Porod, P. Scherrer, Graz 2019, 404-413.

-       C. Soraci, Physical Motherhood and spiritual motherhood between theory and practice: some Late Antique examples, in G. Pedrucci, A. Mastrocinque (a cura di), Mothers in the time of the Church Fathers: maternal thought and maternal practice between normative representations and individual transgressions. International Workshop, University of Verona (Italy), 11 February 2022, Roma 2022, 17-36.

-       C. Soraci, Materna Potestas. Maternal Agency and Marriage Decisions in Roman Times, in G. Pedrucci (ed.), Mothering in Antiquity, Routledge, London-New York 2026, 418-428.